Hair Loss After Pregnancy: How To Strengthen Your Hair Again

If you’re noticing your hair is falling out after you’ve given birth, relax, this is very normal. Most women experience hair loss around the third month after birth, yet others experience this a little later if they’ve been breastfeeding. There’s not much you can do to stop this, but, with good haircare, some super products and tweaking your diet slightly, you can encourage regrowth.

Firstly, don’t stress as this will only exacerbate things. The loss usually continues for 10-12 weeks but, after this, new hair should start to appear. If it’s still falling out, there may be an underlying cause, such as diet, stress or hormonal balance, which needs addressing with a trichologist.

What should I eat to stop pregnancy hair loss?

Your hair is made of protein, so eating enough is vital for good hair health. Meat (particularly red meat), fish, eggs, tofu and lentils are all good sources. Now is also a good time to check you’re not depleted in any vitamins and minerals, however before taking any sort of supplement, it’s worth checking with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

What products will help pregnancy hair loss?

Unfortunately, there is no wonder treatment that can make your hair grow in Rapunzel proportions. There are however, a few products that seem to help.

People often forget their scalp, but this is where your hair is “living”. Think of it like the skin on your face. If the pH levels are out of balance, or it’s too dry or oily, your hair won’t be healthy. Massage is key to boost blood flow and feed the roots. Use a kneading motion on your scalp for two to three minutes every morning or night. And introduce a nourishing treatment, such as the Dry Scalp Treatment from Moroccanoil, into your daily routine. The best news? They've also developed a treatment aimed at oily scalps, so you've covered either way!

Be careful not to over brush or excessively blow-dry your hair. This can cause damage if it is more brittle than usual post-pregnancy. A good-quality brush like the Tangle Teezer will ease out knots without pulling. Also avoid scraping your hair into tight buns or ponytails.

If your hair is very dry, switch to a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, and add a weekly deep-conditioner. The Kerastaste deep conditioner works to nourish your hair grom root to tip, protecting your precious locks from oxidation and prolonging a nourished feeling.

Of course, healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, especially after pregnancy. The protective scalp treatment from the professionals at Aveda helps to maintain the purity of the scalp, penetrating the surface layer to nourish and help preserve the scalp’s natural protective barrier. This might not stop your hair from falling out right away, but will help get your scalp healthier for new hair to grow.

Built for noticeably thinning, fine and chemically treated hair, this volumising leave-on treatment packed with antioxidants refreshes your scalp, protects it from the sun and promotes new hair growth.

Hair experts suggest using an argan oil before and during pregnancy can treat underlying scalp conditions and prevent hair loss. Despite the price tag, this bottle of oil will last you forever (you’ll only need a couple of pumps per application depending on how long your hair is) and will leave your locks feeling silky and smooth.

Don’t be put off by the packaging, this horse to human shampoo is packed with proteins to promote gentle cleansing without stripping away the natural oils your pregnancy hair so desperately needs. Although it might not stop your hair falling out, it will cleanse down to the scalp and promote new growth.

If you feel like your scalp is tight and itchy, now could be the time to switch to a shampoo formulated to soothe and rebalance your scalp, such as this Kerastase one. It works to re-activate the scalp and calm the discomfort.